DEPUTY Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed in Kuching today that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng called him at 3.34am, requesting for federal assistance to deal with the widespread flooding on the island.

Zahid confirmed this at the Expresi Negaraku (national expression) gathering in Petrajaya, adding that after his telephone conversation with Lim, “I have instructed the director-general of the National Security Council (NSC) to coordinate with the police and the military (on flood relief)”.

He said at about 8.30am, the military, police and other federal agencies were mobilised to assist evacuating flood victims.

Penang has been battered by nearly 24 hours of rain, causing widespread flooding with waters reaching 3m to 3.6m high in certain areas.

Lim, in a video posted on Facebook today, said he contacted the deputy prime minister in the wee hours of the morning requesting for federal assistance. – November 5, 2017.